Acanthurus chirurgus

Acanthurus chirurgus
Doctorfish – Acanthurus chirurgus
Source: FAO 2002
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
AcanthuridaeAcanthurus chirurgus(Bloch)1787Doctorfish

Acanthurus chirurgus

Unique Characters: Color of adults in life light yellowish brown to dark greyish brown. Base of caudal fin usually pale (often white). Pelvic fins with bluish rays. About 10 narrow dark bars on side of body. Caudal fin shallowly forked with very narrow pale edge. Anal-fin soft rays 21-23. Dorsal-fin soft rays 23-26. Body not very deep, the depth about 2.0 in standard length. Color of juveniles in life not yellow. Caudal fin without a distinct pale posterior margin (either absent or the width of a pencil line). Caudal fin slightly emarginate, the caudal concavity 17-38 in standard length (in specimens greater than 10 cm standard length). Gill rakers 16-19.

Similar Species:

Blue Tang
Acanthurus coeruleus

Ocean Surgeon
Acanthurus bahianus

Acanthurus coeruleus
Blue Tang – Acanthurus coeruleus
Source: FAO 2002
Ocean Surgeon - Acanthurus bahianus
Ocean Surgeon – Acanthurus bahianus

Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleus. Anal-fin soft rays 24-26. Dorsal-fin soft rays 26-28. Body very deep, the depth about 1.7 in standard length. Color of adults in life blue to purplish grey with grey longitudinal lines on body. Base of caudal fin not pale. Color of juveniles in life bright yellow.

Ocean Surgeon Acanthurus bahianus. Anal-fin soft rays 21-23. Dorsal-fin soft rays 23-26. Body not very deep, the depth about 2.0 in standard length. Ground color of adults in life light yellowish brown to dark greyish brown. Base of caudal fin usually pale (often white). Color of juveniles in life not yellow. No narrow dark bars on side of body. Caudal fin with a distinct pale posterior margin, broader centrally, about ΒΌ- 1/3 width of pupil in adults (wider in young). Caudal fin deeply emarginate, the caudal concavity 4.5-15.5 in standard length (in specimens greater than 10 cm standard length). Gill rakers 18-24.

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